Dad had a good, well-paying job. We had a house in Canada which we were renting out, and a house here which we were living in. After selling the house in Canada and thus paying off the one here, we decided to build on extensions; we also bought a farm. At that point, we could handle it, but only just; about half his income was going towards taxes. He then lost his job and can't get any form of financial support at all. He's nearly 60 and the only job Centrelink could offer him was as a brickie's APPRENTICE, about two hours' drive from the farm. Meanwhile, I had to blow every last cent I ever had, including what my grandfather left to me, to try and support myself while I was going to uni. That ran out pretty fast so my parents had to try and keep me afloat too, because I couldn't get a job and once again, I could not get ANYTHING from Centrelink because my father's now NON-EXISTENT income was 'too high'. My parents can barely afford a fucking thing and the only reason I'm not out on the streets is because I now get a carer's allowance - at the expense of my fucking life. I'm 19 and I'm stuck looking after my disabled grandmother all day, every day just to keep a roof over my head.
I'd like to know where all that bloody tax money went, because it sure as hell didn't go to me when I needed it, and nor did it go to any of my friends who needed it worse than me. It's a small wonder I'm getting anything now, because the first time I applied for a carer's allowance they turned me down. Apparently crippled and prone to careless behaviour and dangerous blood clots at any moment isn't disabled enough.
By the way, I was born in Edmonton and I spent the majority of my education in public schools.
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